Melges 15 Class Wraps Up Winter Series in Sarasota

Sarasota, FL delivered spectacular conditions for the 2022 Melges 15 Midwinter Championship. After nine races, the overall series was won by Eddie Cox and Molly Ziegler with Ripley Shelley and Harry Melges IV crowned Midwinter Champions.

Sixty-four boats competed over the three-day event on the Bay - more than double the registrations in 2021. Two countries and 25 states were represented. The large turnout comes on the heels of the Melges 15 launching worldwide with a second builder in Portugal.

Finishing third in the event were the 2021 Winter Series and National Champions, Emily and John Haig (Beach Haven, NJ). “It doesn’t feel like that long ago that we got our boat and were racing against a dozen boats in New Jersey,” said Emily. “Now we’re here in Florida for the second Winter Series with almost 70 boats.”

The Winter Series relocates to Jensen Beach, FL for 2023. The three events will be run out of the US Sailing Center of Martin County,  known for consistent breeze and great sailing.

Sarasota Gears Up for Midwinter Championship

The Melges 15 Class is in Sarasota, FL for the Midwinter Championship, the third event of the 2022 Winter Series. Sixty-seven boats are set to compete at the final event in Sarasota. 

This is the first Winter Series for Rich and Amanda Horton (Columbia, SC). “There aren’t many classes that attract this many boats,” said Rich. “The biggest event we had sailed was the M15 Nationals with thirty boats. Now we’re out here with 67 boats, which is so much fun and we’re learning a lot.”

“I’ve never done this before, and the Winter Series gives you something to look forward to,” added Amanda. “You’re going on vacation every four weeks - you’re in the warm weather and hanging out with new friends.”

The Class has its sights set on the US Sailing Center of Martin County in Jensen Beach, FL for the 2023 Winter Series. With more than 80 boats eager to sail the 2022 Winter Series, the Class expects the upward trend in registration to continue as boat sales boom across the country. 

Follow the action from the three-day event starting Friday, March 25 on the Melges Facebook and Instagram accounts. Results will be posted to Regatta Network. Learn more about the Melges 15 Class and read daily recaps on Melges15.com.

2023 Winter Series Moving to Jensen Beach, FL

The Melges 15 Class is excited to announce the 2023 Winter Series is moving to Jensen Beach, FL. The three-event series will be hosted by the Class at the US Sailing Center of Martin County, famous for its outstanding breeze on Florida’s East Coast.

The sailing center offers a fantastic, central location for hosting the growing Melges 15 Class. With more than 80 boats eager to sail the 2022 Winter Series, the Class expects the upward trend in registration to continue as boat sales boom across the country. 

Save the dates for the 2023 Winter Series:

• Event 1 January 7-8, 2023

• Event 2 February 25-26, 2023

• Midwinter Championship March 24-26, 2023

The Melges/Quantum Sails Zenda Team will host a clinic the day prior to each regatta. More information and registration will be available in Summer 2022. 

Melges 15 Available Worldwide

MARCH 9, 2022 (Zenda, Wisconsin): Melges Performance Sailboats is proud to announce the worldwide launch of the Melges 15 through its partnership with Nelo and dealers around the globe. Boats will be available for delivery starting in Spring 2022. 

Springboarding from its launch in May 2020, the Melges 15 has seen exponential growth in North America and was awarded Sailing World’s Boat of the Year title. More than 275 boats are sailing around the US with another 200 on the way to new owners. 

The Melges 15 offers an exciting doublehanded platform that appeals to a wide range of sailors from youth to adults. Melges conducted extensive research and product testing to produce a comfortable environment for both the skipper and crew. The deeper cockpit takes the load off the sailor’s knees helping them feel locked into the boat while the high boom and gnav vang system work together to make the boat easier to maneuver.

The asymmetric spinnaker offers an additional performance element while the single-pull launch and retrieval system makes handling the sail easy and fast. The eager to plane hull shape makes downwind sailing a fast, fun ride. 

Based in Porto, Portugal, Nelo is in a prime location to supply the European market with Melges 15s easily and efficiently. Bringing Nelo onboard for production also keeps the purchase cost low while providing a local resource for new owners. In combination with Nelo’s steady supply of high-quality boats, Melges dealers enhance the exponential growth that the Melges 15 has already experienced in North America. 

Find the full list of dealers by visiting Melges.com. For more information on the Melges 15, visit Melges15.com or email sales@melges.com. 

Save the Date: 2022 National Championship

The Melges 15 Class is thrilled to announce the 2022 National Championship, which will take place September 29-October 2 in Charleston, SC.

Three days of racing will be kicked off with a clinic led by Melges/Quantum Sails Zenda. The Nationals Notice of Race and online registration will be available soon.

The 2022 Melges 15 season is in full swing with a record number of entries for the Winter Series in Sarasota, Florida. The Spring calendar features new events on the East Coast and the start of the Pacific Northwest circuit.

Melges 15 Winter Series Attracts Teams from Around Country

Sixty-four Melges 15s competed in the second event of the 2022 Winter Series February 26-27 in Sarasota, FL. After five races, Eddie Cox and Molly Ziegler (WI) won the event followed by Turner Ryon (NJ) and Emily Haig (NJ).

Sailors traveled from all over the country including owner Brian Savery who made the 3,200-mile drive from Bellingham, WA, and Paul “Krak” Arntson from Lake Tahoe, CA. Rounding out the top five boats was Walker Angus representing one of the newest fleets from Fishing Bay Yacht Club in Deltaville, VA.

Even with a light forecast for much of the weekend, the Race Committee was able to host a great weekend of racing in winds of 6-12 knots.

The Winter Series finishes off March 25-27 with the Midwinter Championship.

Sarasota Welcomes Melges 15 Class for Second Winter Series Event

The Melges 15 Class is back in Sarasota, FL for the second two-day event of its Winter Series February 26-27. The 2022 Series consists of three events culminating in the Midwinter Championship March 26-28.
 
An impressive 64-boats are lining up after Sailing World officially presented Melges with the 2022 Boat of the Year trophy in St. Petersburg, FL last weekend. Among the boats are those seeking shelter from the cold sweeping across the North as well as a few traveling from the budding West Coast fleets.
 
Sailing kicked off Friday afternoon with practice and a debrief hosted by Melges Performance Sailboats/Quantum Sails Zenda. Racing takes place Saturday and Sunday out of the Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Follow the action on the Melges Facebook and Instagram. Results will be posted on Regatta Network. Learn more about the Class at melges15.com.